( music playing ) Yeah, I'm headed up there.

Beef Time Industries.

I know people there.

Company runs the town.

Yeah, I hear you.

You'll get your story.

Deadline's not a problem.

(mooing ) ( door opens and shuts ) ( car horn honks ) ( sighs ) ( phone ringing ) El virus?

Pa?

( coughing ) ( sighs ) Everyone, to be worn at all times on the floor.

( laughing ) To protect us?

This is phase one PPE, Agustin.

It goes over your nose and mouth.

Now you guys spread the word.

We got shifts.

We need some extra bodies down here on the floor.

( coughing ) Woman: Temperature checks are ongoing.

We are following the protocols put forth the governor and the CDC.

We take our essential business status very seriously.

Are workers staying home because they're sick or because they're afraid of becoming sick?

We are constantly adjusting to worker availability.

COVID is just a new wrinkle.

You have to understand, our workforce is very diverse.

Over 20 foreign languages are spoken by team members, and we have some workers who have been with us for many years and some who are seasonal.

So we're constantly adjusting.

Temperature checks are limited in what they reveal.

The infected are often asymptomatic.

Couldn't the plant be taking other measures?

Well, you've read our press release, right?

About the measures that we are taking.

I did.

That's why I'm asking.

We're a business, not a medical facility.

Understood, but more PPE?

More notices around here in languages other than English?

You can't lay this pandemic on our doorstep.

Our workers live in very diverse communities.

They are not your average American family.

Their living circumstances are different.

Several family members live together in cramped housing.

That's a fact.

And the transmission of this disease is going to happen in those situations.

You're blaming the workers?

No, I'm not blaming anyone.

I am merely pointing out that our diverse workers live differently than the average American family.

You're blaming your workers and their living circumstances?

Thank you all for coming.

We will announce our next briefing shortly.

( whispering ) Gil Navarro.

I see you're credentialed.

- Out of where?

- Los Angeles.

So you don't know this area well?

I grew up in Whitmore Flats two miles away.

I used to see you at company picnics when I was a kid.

Well, things have changed a lot since then.

Have they?

Just don't publish what you don't understand.

And remember, the workers do not have the full story.

Limited, I guess, by not being average Americans?

( grunts ) Hey!

City boy.

- What you doing back home?

- Working.

Jamison got you back on the job?

Nah, just a few odds and ends.

Needed the feria.

At least till things settle down at the plant.

Yeah, that's what they got me writing about.

The plant?

With the corona?

Good luck with that, man.

BTI's got this whole town muzzled.

You okay talking?

- Just don't use our names.

- Not a problem.

You better talk to your pops, man.

He's still working the line.

Yeah, he's hardcore.

Ever since your mom passed on, he's been taking on extra hours.

The plant still work a full crew?

Does a lady cow have chi-chis?

When they can get 'em.

Pinche supervisors.

They're always texting us every day.

"Oye, cabrón.

You want a shift, okay?"

Chale.

We know what's going on.

We're staying away.

The other day, we were on the kill floor with your dad and José.

( coughing ) ( clears throat ) ( coughing ) ( wheezes, coughs ) ( wheezing ) - José, bien?

- ( coughing ) ( coughing ) ( gasping, coughing ) ( wheezing, panting ) Get him off the floor.

Now.

Everyone, back to work.

( wheezing ) Get back to work, everyone.

They got him on a ventilator.

You go see him?

Hospital won't let anyone in.

Listen, man, you better talk to your pops.

I know.

We all admire him for reals.

Hell, he's the one that got me my job at the plant.

But, man, cattle ain't the only thing they're cutting down at BTI.

Remember about those extra shifts.

You see me if you're interested.

We need more people like Agustin here.

How many years, Agustin?

35.

And how many days you miss?

- Not one.

- Hear that?

Not one.

See me if you want those shifts.

Always making us look bad.

"Ninguno, ninguno, ninguno."

( laughs ) Aw, you make yourself look bad, payaso.

I came to this country to work, huh?

( music playing ) ( insect buzzing ) ( insect buzzing ) - Connie?

- Who's that?

- Gilberto.

- Ay, chamaco.

You scared me.

They told me you were down here.

How do you like my palace?

- ( sighs ) It's nice.

- I would hug you, but one of the girls in my section got the corona, so now you have me here sleeping with the pinche squirrels and moscas 'cause I ain't giving this mess to my kids or anyone.

Why are you here?

Working.

Oh, that's right!

You're working for the newspaper now.

We're so proud of you.

Can I ask you some questions about the plant?

Is that what you're writing about?

Yeah, I was up there this morning.

Okay, but you can't use my name.

- Of course.

- 'Cause, you know, that plant has eyes and ears everywhere, and they don't like to be badmouthed.

BTI says they have the situation handled.

Temperature checks, sanitization every night, communication with the workers.

No, chingas.

Communication.

We didn't know nothing about that girl and corona.

Not from management.

It was her sister, the one that called us and let us know.

Then BTI spread us out on the floor.

And that, what, stopped after five minutes?

Because our output was low.

And let me tell you about those temperature checks.

You know that skinny chick they have out in the front?

She ain't no nurse.

She's one of the boss's nieces, and probably got her training on the internets.

They are so short staffed that if you have a fever, they give you an ibuprofen and put you back on the floor.

So you work while you're sick?

It's more like if you ain't dead, they're putting you back on the floor.

You heard what happened to your cousin José.

- Yeah.

- He's in isolation.

I've been textiando with his wife Margarita.

She just said a priest just prayed over him over the phone.

Can you imagine that?

Praying over the phone?

Bueno.

Gracias.

Any time.

After all this passes, are you gonna go back there to work?

That plant's like my ex.

The more you try to leave, the more it gets you back.

There's other places you can work.

Where?

Around here, where else are we gonna work?

( phone chimes ) Gil: What?

( coughing ) ( coughing ) ( phone chimes ) ( music playing ) Agustin.

Don't bother.

- This won't take long.

- Okay.

Well, we didn't have any more briefings scheduled today, Mr. Navarro.

How did you manage to get in here?

Guard at the front gate is my uncle.

I took the receptionist to our high school prom.

My dad works on the kill floor.

I told you I'm from out here.

- What can I do for you?

- Can BTI give a comment on the death of your employee José Castillo this afternoon from COVID-19?

I'm-- uh, I'm sorry.

Uh, truly.

Um, we will prepare a statement and we will definitely reach out to Mr. Castillo's family.

Is there anything else?

I spent the day talking to workers that say that the plant hasn't prioritized worker safety.

I said earlier that we are following all the necessary guidelines.

Mrs. Pruitt, I'm trying to be fair.

It's clear that the guidelines aren't working.

Any worker grievances can be taken up with human resources.

You're just gonna keep letting this happen, right?

I knew the man who died today.

I know his family.

They're good people.

I'm sorry for your loss, Mr. Navarro, but I think it's time for you to leave.

And I would call security, except you probably know all of them also, hmm?

Pruitt, right?

That's two T's?

I just wanna be correct on the spelling.

And the exact quote was, "They're not your average American family."

"Their living circumstances are different."

Their living circumstances, that's what's killing BTI workers, right?

Agustin: Gracias.

Vamos.

No.

( music playing) ( knocking on door ) ( knocking on door ) So you don't have to eat that fast food porqueria.

- Chile colorado?

- What do you think?

You'd rather stay here than at the house?

The newspaper set it up.

Not much of a room.

I hear the newspapers are struggling, but why do they have to take it out on you?

You see José's family?

How's the writing?

Getting there.

Oscar, Cesar, and Connie, they gave me some, but it's hard to get people to talk.

You know, people are scared.

BTI runs this town.

- I'll talk.

- Pa?

I said, I'll talk.

- One condition.

- I know.

No names.

No.

The condition is that you use my name.

How many times you gonna ask me?

( music playing ) ( coughing ) ( coughing continues ) ( coughing ) I'm going to need a few more minutes.

We'll let them in as soon as you give the word.

More chairs today?

There's twice as many reporters.

TV crews, too.

TV crews?

I think one's national.

There's about five satellite trucks, too.

Did you see this?

It's the Gil Navarro article.

You know, Gil took me to my high school prom.

Yes, I've heard.

Let me know when you want us to send them all in.

Sí, Papa.

Gracias.

Pa?

( music playing ) ( music continues )